The monthly arts festival will be of the first of its kind to combine visual, performing and musical arts from St. Maarten’s avant-garde arts scene.

Thierry Gombs, director of culture, sports and youth affairs in St. Maarten, discusses the importance of the Arts in the Plaza festival to St. Maarten. “I think that the event should be something interesting. It is always good to showcase what we have here in St. Maarten — whether they are native St. Maarteners or people that decided to live here in St. Maarten, they show off their art. It is an event that could promote the island that could showcase what is done locally here, and of course, anything that is done for the promotion of this little rock, I’m there,” said Gombs.

The event is free and open to the public. The festival will continue into 2011 with new performances and exhibits each month scheduled for January 19, February 16, March 16, April 20 and May 18. A complete listing of featured artists will be announced prior to each event at http://www.stmaartenlife.com. For festival updates like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/artsintheplaza. Orient Express Hotels, La Samanna Resort, Porto Cupecoy and Dom Perignon Champagne are sponsoring the festival.

The Porto Cupecoy Plaza will host the Arts Festival.  Porto Cupecoy Plaza is located on the Dutch side of St. Maarten, the culinary, shopping and yachting capital of the Caribbean. Nestled in a protected cove on Simpson Bay, and just across the border from Terra Basse and the French side of the island, Porto Cupecoy offers the best of both distinct sides of this breath taking island.

Click link for map:  Porto Cupecoy Plaza

Click on Link to read the full press release:

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Avant-Garde-Arts-Festival-Launch-St-Maarten-St-Martin-Monthly-Festival-Curated-Top-Caribbean-1366241.htm

Check out some of my other St. Maarten / Sint Martin Blogs & see what people are saying on twitter about them!

http://www.stmaartenbeach.com

http://www.philipsburgblog.com

http://www.marigotblog.com

More Blogs from the USA, the Caribbean, Bahamas, Hawaii & International
Click on Link Professor Beach Blogs

Check out my website for Beachtowns all over the World!

http://worldsbestbeachtowns.com

-

I recently returned from Haiti. One of the cities I visited was Montrouis, a Beachtown that is near Saint Marc and two hours from the Capital of Port Au Prince. Montrouis is a coastal town in western Haiti. Montrouis is also one of the best beach towns in Haiti, with several well renowned hotels and resorts, including le Moulin-sur-Mer. The town is located on the Cotes des Arcadins, one of Haiti’s longest stretches of pure white sand beaches.   It is also an exceptional place for sailing and fishing.

Haiti is on the West side of an Island in the Caribbean.  The East side of the Island is the Dominican Republic.

This map is Interactive.

Click and drag anywhere on the Map to move it around.

Click on the TABS for different views.

Click on the + or – to Zoom In or Zoom Out.

This is my 4th visit to Haiti. (My 1st since the horrific hurricane in January).   Check out my video of Montrouis. Check out my Haiti blog: http://ADayinHaiti.com

My Visit to Aruba was Lots of Fun!

For more click here:   http://www.oranjestadblog.com/

I’m off to Oranjestad today to visit the capital of Aruba.  Check out my blog  http://www.oranjestadblog.com/ for photos and more information, including current weather conditions in Oranjestad.

The Vervet Monkeys, in the Caribbean, have developed a taste for alcohol. They can be spotted stealing cocktails from humans on the beach. This is a brilliant wildlife video from BBC animal show ‘Weird Nature’.

Brimstone Hill Fortress in St Kitts in the North Eastern Caribbean.

Professor Beach Visits Frigate Bay Beach

St Kitts Collage

St. Kitts Beach

A view from St Kitts with Statia in the background

Tour the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis

Shoal Bay in in the Northeast area of Anguilla on the Atlantic Ocean

More Info on Shoal Bay Anguilla

http://www.squidoo.com/shoalbay

I just returned back to the states from 10 days in Anguilla, St. Kitts and Nevis – what a great trip and great islands!

If you are looking for a more exclusive and private beaches, Anguilla is the place!   The white sand beaches and turquoise water, as well as beautiful weather year round with temperatures ranging between 80-86 degree, make this a great place to visit.  Uncrowded beaches, water sports and a spectacular coral reef are just a few reasons to visit for relaxing and unwinding.

The best activities to take part in are scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, fishing, charter boats and water sports.  One can also take day trips to St. Maarten and St. Barts.  There are  more then 80 species of birds, so bird watching is another great activity.  Other land activities include hiking, bike riding and horseback riding.

Anguilla is a British overseas territory, one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles.  It consists of the main island of Anguilla which is approximately 26 km (16 miles) long by 5 km (3 miles) wide at its widest point. If you are seeking a special, romantic getaway on a small island, gifted with 33 of the best beaches in the Caribbean, this could be the island you are looking for.

Yes, there are 33 beaches, each one super in their own way. They range from the really serene Little Harbor to the wild Windward Bay, from the popular East Shoal Bay & Rendezvous Bay.  And don’t forget Maunday’s Bay, Shoal Bay West and Cove Bay for starters.

You can view my photos and see more videos in a new blog about my visit to Shoal Bay

It was fun meeting Bankie Banx.  He is Anguilla’s reggae  star and local real estate mogul.  I met Bankie at the Dune Preserve in Rendezvous Bay.

We have heard that the rich and famous go to other Caribbean islands when they want to be seen, but they go to Anguilla to hide & disappear. You do not have to be rich and famous to vacation here.

Interesting – there are no chain stores or restaurants here – no franchises are allowed. This is a 100% genuine, tropical Caribbean island getaway. The shopping here is not great, but if shopping is on your agenda, a 20 minute ferry ride to St.Martin/St. Marteen is worth the ride.

Click on these links below to get more info:

Anguilla Tourist Board

Professor Beach’s Worlds Best Beachtowns Website for more information on Maundays Bay

Professor Beach’s Worlds Best Beachtowns Website for more information on Shoal Bay

Professor Beach’s New Squidoo Lens about Shoal Bay in Anguilla – West Indies

Charlestown is the capital of Nevis.  Charlestown is situated on the leeward side of the island of Nevis, near the southern end of Pinneys Beach.   This is where I ran into the “killer bees” but not to worry, I wasn’t stung!  It was actually fun. Watch my video to see what I am talking about…

St. Kitts is the island above Nevis.   Charlestown in in the parish of St Paul Charlestown (see the red area in map below).

Saint Paul Charlestown is one of 14 administrative parishes that make up Saint Kitts and Nevis.

To find out more about Charlestown click here to visit Professor Beach’s World’s Best Beachtowns.

The last time I visited I visited the Turks and Cacios was in 2005 . I never made it to the Conch Farm.  I was too busy taking in the sun and sand on the beach.  Did you know that Provo is home to the only Conch farm in the world?  These mollusks have beautiful pink shells and they take five years to grow to their adult size.  Have you ever had Conch Soup?

The Conch Farm is open for tours during the winter months.

Providenciales, also known as “Provo“, is a 25 mile long island in the Turks & Caicos Islands.  The island is situated on the west side of the Caicos archipelago.  Provo has an area of 38 square miles.

Besides being home to the only conch farm in the world,  Providenciales is famous for it’s 12 mile Grace Bay Beach.   One of my favorite magazines Conde Naste, has rated Grace Bay Beach among the top ten beaches in the world.

Grace Bay Beach features beautiful white sand that edges spectacular clear, turquoise water and pristine coral reefs.  Providenciales offers an uncomplicated lifestyle and natural beauty.  Provo is a divers’ and water lovers’ paradise.

Provo is the urban center of the Turks & Caicos Islands.  This island offers all the modern conveniences one could dream of taking an awesome vacation to get away from the stress and the hustle-bustle of the overpopulated cities.

Provo has an 18 hole golf course, a casino, shopping centers, three marinas, a growing number of of bars and excellent restaurants.   Provo is also a divers’ and water lovers’ paradise.  There is something here for everyone!

The Caicos Bank, on the south part of the island, is a shallow, pale turquoise sea.  It is partly composed of swamp and tidal flats, filled with an abundant resource of conch and lobster.   On the opposite end of Providenciales, the deep channel of Leeward Going Through makes a natural and safe harbor on the northeast end of the island.  Sapodilla Bay is a popular mooring for yachts traveling through the Turks and Caicos Islands.  The natural island formations offer safe mooring areas for sailors.  On a hill overlooking Sapodilla Bay, stones engraved by shipwrecked sailors can be found.

Turks and Caicos is one of my very most favorite places in the world… Yes,  I am thinking of going back this winter to enjoy the white sand & the crystal blue water.  Living in upstate New York, I need some more photos to remind me of warmer days… it’s about 35 degrees right now where I live….. oh to be basking in the sun once again…

It is easy to get there.  The Providenciales International Airport (PLS) is a modern, full service facility that welcomes dozens of international flights every week from North America, Europe and other Caribbean Islands.  It is also the gateway to the rest of the Turks & Caicos Islands. The goal of the PLS is to make your arrival and departure from their island paradise as smooth and efficient as possible.

Ready, Set, Let’s Go!